Pneumatically-variable tension-regulators for musical instruments.



A. & 0. PHILIPPS.

PNEUMATIOALLY VARIABLE TENSION REGULATORS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.APPLICATION FILED JULY26,1909- RENEWED APR. 19.1910.

" 1 ,204, 3 1 0. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

fiji Lji: d J i m: mums PErLRs cm, WASHINGTON, D c.

AUGUST PHILIPPS AND OSWALD PHILIPPS, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

PNEUMATICALLY-VARIABLE TENSION- REGULATORS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1916.

Application filed July 26, 1909, Serial No. 509,744. Renewed April 19,1916. Serial No. 92,315.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, AUGUST Prrimrrs andOSWALD Prnmrrs, both subjects of the Emperor of Germany, residing atFrankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatically-Variable Tension-Regulators for MusicalInstruments; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention has for its object "to improve and render more compactand delicately responsive pneumatically variable tension regulators, ofthe kind shown and described in the Letters Patent to Velte and BookishNo. 1,008,291, as applied to a musical instrument.

Our improved device herein described and claimed is not confined to suchuse however, although this use is perhaps the most important and obvioustherefor.

Our invention may therefore be considered as an improvement on saidpatent, but given a more general scope and utility than those thereinmentioned.

In carrying into effect the above object we employ a valve controlledair-way, a regulating or governing bellows mounted thereon, an adjustingbellows mounted on said regulating bellows and connections between thevalve of said air-Way and said adjusting bellows, said connectionscomprising a part which expands or contracts according to the positionof said valve and being preferably an additional bellows supplied by airgoverned by said valve, the said elements being adapted and arranged topermit the actuation of said valve by either the regulating bellows orthe adjusting bellows or by both of them in cooperation.

Our invention consists in the combination of said elements, compactlyarranged and operating as above and in certain minor details ofconstruction embodied therein, all as hereinafter more particularly setforth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a verticalcross-section of mechanism embodying our invention; and Figs. 2, 3 and 4represent similar views of modifications.

On top of the casing of an air-way or chamber 0, a regulating bellows Z)is supported, communicating therewith, said bellows being exhaustedthrough said air-way. This communication is preferably through the topof said casing as shown in Fig. 1. This air-way or chamber may. includea compartment separated by a partition. Said air-way has an opening orport g, which may be in this compartment as shown in Fig. 1, for thesuction passage a, which may follow any convenient path to said air-way.An airpassage 10 leads out from chamber 0. .Vhen applied to a keyedmusical instrument this would communicate with bellows, not shown, foractuating the keys; but the connections of this passage 10 will ofcourse depend on its special use. Suction is applied to passage a, sothat the current of air is through passage w, port 9, air-way c andpassage a. A slide valve 7t is automatically raised or lowered to openor close said port more'or less for varying the volume of said current.

The movable upper member Z of the governing or regulating bellows b isprovided with mechanical lifting means consisting preferably of a spring0 and a connecting cord passing over a pulley. On this movable member ismounted an auxiliary bellows mmoving up and down therewith. Thisauxiliary bellows is loosely connected at its upper member by a link rod2' to a rigid arm of the movable lower member 7a of an adjusting bellows(Z mounted on said upper member of governing or regulating bellows D andalso moving up and down therewith, a pair of rounded nuts n being usedto connect said arm and rod. The lower member of auxiliary bellows m isconnected by a loosely jointed pair of linkbars to the slide valve haforesaid. The interiors of the governing bellows Z) and auxiliarybellows m communicate. Thus the said valve is suspended from the movablemember of adjust-ing bellows (Z by connecting means extended orcontracted according to the supply of air to said auxiliary bellows fromsaid governing bellows and the latters supply depends on the valve whoseposition depends on the movement of the movable member of said adjustingbellows, also on the rising and falling of the latter bellows as a wholewith the movable member of said governing bellows, also on the supply ofair to said governing bellows through the opening controlled by saidvalve and thence to the auxiliary bellows m. On the resultant of thevarious movements of these devices depends the volume of the air supply.The slide valve k may be lifted by the governing bellows or theadjusting bellows or by both acting together. Said adjusting bellows (Zis provided with a port- (Z, which serves at ill either as an inlet oran exhaust passage. Air may be supplied to this port by any convenientmeans, not shown, distending the adjusting bellows (Z, forcing down theslidevalve /2, and closing altogether, or to any desired degree, thesound controlling port 9. The flow of air through port (Z is preferablycontrolled by a perforated music sheet. At the same time the descent oflink rod i with said member is carries down the movable member m or"bellows m. On the other hand, when the air is exhausted or permitted toescape from bellows (Z the movable lower member 7a of said bellows ismoved upward, raising said slide-valve and opening said port 9. As theair escapes through this port the weight or" the movable bellows member6 and the parts mounted thereon will overcome the resistance of thespring 0 and the said member will descend. During this downwardmovement, the escape of the air from bellows Z) through port 9 willprevent air from passing into auxiliary bellows m. llut when the port 9is closed the air from bellows Z will enter bellows m, lift the uppermovable member of the latter, carry upward the linkrod z' and thus raisethe movable member is of bellows (Z, expelling the air from the interiorof the latter through port cZ.

A stop plate q carried by the movable member of a vertical bellows 79 isactuated by the supply or withdrawal of air through pipe 7) to or fromthe last mentioned bellows. This pipe may be supplied and exhausted byany suitable means, not shown, preferably the same that feeds bellows Z)through port or passage a. When the air thus entering distends bellows pand moves outward its movable member, the latter carries stop q in toposition to limit the upward movement oi members 7: and m, link-rod z'and valve it. V

The size of the air port 9 may be regulated by varying the supply of airto passage w, for the increase of the air tension in bellows b willforce air into governing bellows m and lift member m besides liftingnember e and carrying up the bellows m as whole. The upward movement ofmember e, bellows m and the individual upward vement of member m willcotiperate to slide valve 72,, uncovering a great part or whole of portg. The diminution of the air supply through w will obviously have thereverse effect. 11 either casethe change of area of outlet port 9promptly compensates for the change of supply, making a delicateautomatic regulation of such tension. Of course the notes emitted willbe intensified or weakened as said point is more or less opened orclosed. The same results may be attained with no increase of supplythrough 10 by exhausting air in any con venient way through port (Z frombellows (Z, thus raising slide-valve h and opening the port g, or bysupplying air through port JZ to bellows (Z with the reverse action onsaid slide-valve and connected parts as explained. Or both of thesemethods may be used together, air being supplied through port w whileexhausting from port cZ. In most instances however, it is moreconvenient to use port (Z for escape of air without any positive exhaustand to rely on the increase of air supply through port a for openingport 9 more amply and intensifying the notes.

' It has not been deemed necessary to show the opening in the bottom ofbellows m through which air enters the same from bellows b, as suchconstruction may be readily understood.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 dispenses with compartment 7' andsubstitutes for slide-valve it a flap valve .9 resembling the movablemember of a bellows and connected by flexible folds r to a fixed upperpart in which the port ais made. The port 9 is made in the opening endof said flexible folds and marked by two short plates in this figure.l/Vhen these plates are in contact with each other by the upward movement of flap-valve s, the port 9 is closed. A rod 2' extends'from themovable upper member of bellows d, to one arm of lever 6 having itsfulcrum near its middle on an attachment of said flap valve 8. From theother end of said lever a rod descends to the movable member ein thisinstance the lower member-of bellows Z). In this modification wedispense with bellows m and somewhat vary the arrangement and locationsof bellows Z) and (Z besides reversing the choice of movable membersfrom that in Fig. 1: but the principle is the same.

In Fig. 3, which retains the compartment f, making it somewhat largerand thicker than in Fig. 1, both a slide-valve a and a flap-valve u areused; the former being suspended by rod 2' from an arm of the movablebellows member 7a and the valve is being connected by link rod 2' to themovable bellows member 6. A spring 0 tends to hold it in'this positionor restrict it thereto, when lifted, also to expand bellows (Z. Theexhaust or" bellows cZ will cause the ascent of member 7a and valve 11and will open port 9, located and constructed as in Fig. 2, more or lessprovided the member 6 does not rise sufiiciently to lift valve it intoposition to close said port 9. In this instance the inlet 64 is abovevalve u and the air thus introduced will tend to move both of saidvalves away from this opening. Thus either the increase oi supplythrough port a. or the exhaustion of air from bellows (Z will tend, asbefore explained, to automatically regulate the air tension in bellows bas well as the intensity or" the notes emitted.

Fig. l differs from Fig. 2 in substituting .a cord :12 and pulley w forthe lever 25 and rod 2". There is no other substantial difierence inconstruction and none in operation.

Obviously other changes may be made in the embodiment of my inventionwithout departing from the principle or scope of tae same. Thisapplication is intended to include all such, though necessarily only afew preferred forms have been disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A valve-controlled air-way and a governing bellows mounted thereon,in combination with an adjusting bellows mounted on said governingbellows, an auxiliary bellows which has pneumatic connection with saidgoverning bellows and is carried by the movable member of the latter,and mechanical connections between the auxiliary bellows and the valveof said air-way, also between the auxiliary bellows and the movablemember of said adjusting bellows, the inflation or said auxiliarybellows being governed by the position of said valve and the consequentgreater or less closure of said air-way.

2. A valve-controlled air-way and a governing bellows mounted thereon,in combination with an adjusting bellows mounted on said governingbellows, a stop limiting the movement of the latter, an auxiliarybellows which has pneumatic connection with said governing bellows andis carried by the movable member of the latter, and mechanicalconnections between the auxiliary bellows and the valve of said air-way,also between the auxiliary bellows and the movable member of saidadjusting bellows, the inflation of said auxiliary bellows beinggoverned by the position of said valve and the consequent greater orless closure of said air-way.

3. A valve-controlled air-way and a governing bellows pneumaticallyconnected therewith, in combination with an adjusting bellows, anauxiliary bellows which has pneumatic connection with said governingbellows and is arranged to move therewith, and means connecting saidauxiliary bellows to said valve and to said adjusting bellows wherebyeither the governing bellows or adjusting bellows may actuate the valveof said air-way or both of them may actuate it in cooperation.

4. A valve controlled air-way and a governing bellows pneumaticallyconnected therewith, in combination with an adjusting bellows mounted onsaid governing bellows and connections between the valve of said air-wayand the said adjusting bellows comprising means of extending andcontracting such connections, the said means being govered by themovement of said valve, the said devices being arranged and adapted topermit the actuation of said valve by either or" said bellows or by bothof them acting 1n COOPGIHElOIl.

5. A valve-controlled air-way and a governing bellows mounted thereon,in combination with an adjusting bellows mounted on said governingbellows, a bellows carrying a stop for limiting the movement oi saidgoverning bellows, this stopcarrying bellows having pneumatic connectionwith said adjusting bellows, and extensible and contractible meansconnecting the valve of said air-way with said adjusting bellows, theextension and contraction of said means being controlled by the movementof the governing bellows.

A regulating bellows, in combination with an adjusting bellows mountedthereon, an additional bellows provided with a stop limiting themovement of said adjusting bellows and also mounted on said regulatingbellows, a fixed part having an exhaust passage through the same belowthe regulating bellows, a valve governing said passage and connected tothe movable member of said adjusting bellows, to rise and falltherewith, the arrangement and combination of the said parts abovedescribed serving to make the mechanism compact.

in testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

AUGUST PHILIPPS. OS /VALD PHILIPPS. lVitnesses JEAN GRUND, CARL GRUND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

